2018 HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM BWA’S PRESIDENT GWAINEVERE CATCHINGS HESS

Dear Sisters and Friends:

On behalf of The Black Women’s Agenda, Inc., I wish you a safe, healthy, and joyous holiday season.

This has been a busy year for BWA. Along with our National Collaborating Organizations, we were actively involved in getting out the vote and were thrilled with the pivotal role Black women played in electing candidates on the state and local level, and also running for office. According to the blackwomeninpolitics.com database, Black women ran for 58 federal seats, 180 state offices, 213 local positions, and 17 unspecified seats. We are the change we want to see in the world, and our sisters are serving notice!

In September, during our 41st Annual Symposium in Washington, DC, BWA hosted “Living Your Best Life At Every Age: I Am The Change” — a town hall for more than 600 participants that encouraged participants to consider where they are and want to be from a financial, education and health perspective, and to be a catalyst for change for themselves, their families, and communities. The wildly enthusiastic response the event received inspired BWA to take the forums on the road. With support from AARP, we hosted “Living Your Best Life At Every Age: I Am The Change” workshops in St. Louis and Baltimore. Check our website for information about future forums.

With 2019 just days away, BWA is focused on the road ahead and how we move forward. As an organization, we will continue our work to secure, protect, and advance the rights and well-being of Black women and their families. We will be vocal, visible, and vigilant in reminding those who serve in elected office of our agenda, and a proactive force and resource for helping Black women to live their very best lives.

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and the Warmest of Wishes for the New Year!

Gwainevere Catchings Hess

OTHER NEWS

Founded in 1977, The Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. is a national organization with a mission of educating and protecting the rights of African American women and their families, and represents more than 3 million women.

This Open Letter is being sent in support of women throughout the United States and the World. We understand the importance of recognizing the “person-hood” of women and their complete dominion over their bodies, including matters of pregnancy and reproductive health.

On March 8, 2019, the 116th U.S House of Representatives passed the historic For the People Act of 2019 (HR 1), also known as “The Restoring Our Democracy” bill. Introduced by Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD) on January 3, 2019 and co-sponsored by 236 House members, HR 1 is a comprehensive bill that expands voter registration and voting access, makes Election Day a national holiday, and limits removing voters from voter rolls. Further, to guard against unjust gerrymandering, the bill provides for states to establish independent nonpartisan redistricting commissions. The bill is organized in three Divisions: A: Voting, B: Campaign Finance and C: Ethics.

On Saturday, May 18, 2019, The Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. (BWA) hosted faith leaders, activists, elected officials, journalists, and a multicultural audience from across the political spectrum today for Spirit of Change, a frank and expansive town hall conversation, moderated by ABC News Anchor and Correspondent T.J. Holmes, on some of the nation’s most pressing issues, at Washington National Cathedral in the nation’s capital.